Material elevator



July 7, 1953 s. D. RUSSELL MATERIAL ELEVATOR a?" M/r 5 Sheets- -Sheet l v Filed July 11, 1946 5. D. RUSSELL 2,644,570

MATERIAL ELEVATOR July 7, 1953 5 Sheetg-Sheet? Filed July 11, 1946 Jll Ill lll fll l 1m o July 7, 1953 vs. D. RUSSELL, I 2,644,570 MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed July 11, 1946 5 SheetsSheet 3 a l2 z; I r m:

.// 1 I I I 04mm J 22 @aae%' 5'. D. RU'SSELL MATERIAL ELEVATOR July 7, 1953 s Sheets-Slieet 4 Filed July 11, 1946 July 7, 1953 s. D. RUSSELL MATERIAL ELEVATOR 5 Sheets$heef 5 Filed July 11, 1946 I'- aw? E,

Patented July 7, 1953 MATERIAL ELEVATOR Stanley D. Russell, Racine, Wis., assignor to J. 1. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a company of Wisconsin Application July 11, 1946, Serial N 0. 682,892 11 Claims. (01. 1985122) My invention relates to material elevators. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a portable endless elevator capable of use under different conditions requiring different heights of elevation of the conveyor chute in Whichthe endless conveyor support is mounted to swing for adjustment to different heights about an axis coaxial with or adjacent the axis of a pair of ground-engaging wheels on which the conveyor is moved from place to place.

A further object of the'invention is to provide such a construction in which the endless conveyor is driven from one of the ground-engaging wheels which is supported off the ground for this purpose.

A further object is to provide a construction as set forth in the above objects in which the elevator is motor driven and the motor support is mounted for movement from transport position to operating position.

A further object is to provide improvements in the elevator chute, chute-supporting means and endless conveyor.

A further object is to provide an endless conveyor construction having improved chute means by which the conveyor may be adapted for handling different classes of material, for example, bales of hay, with'one adaptation of the conveyor, and shelled grain with a different adaptation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which two embodiments of my invention are shown,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an endless chain elevator;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the elevator in lowered position;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 are sections substantially on the lines 55, 6--6, 'I-'I and 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofthe motor base mounting;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line IIlIIl of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a view from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2I 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational' view from the right of Fig. 3 showing part of the wheel;

=Fig.,14 is a section on the line I i-I4 of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 15 is a bottom view of the elevatorsup-v port shown in Fig. 1;

Fig, 16 is a perspective view of the upper end of the elevator showing a drawbar attachment; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the upper end of the elevator showing a suspension support; 1 1

Fig. 18 is a perspective View of the lower end of the elevator showing an auxiliary chute attachment;

Fig. 19 is a vertical axial sectional view similar to Fig. 3. but showing a difierent form of drive; and A Fig. 20 is an elevational view from the left of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to Figs. l-18,;incl., the portable elevator shown comprises a pair of coaxial ground-engaging wheelsl and 2 on which the elevator is transported from place to place, an elongated chute and conveyor support 3 swingably mounted for height adjustment about the axis of said Wheels I and 2, an endless chain conveyor 4 mounted on said support, and a pair of sprockets 5 and 6 mounted at opposite ends of said swingable support over which the chain runs for supporting it in extended position.

In this form means are provided for driving the conveyor chain from one of the ground-engaging wheels I. For this purpose means are provided for supporting the wheel I above the ground. This wheel I, when elevated,is used to drive the lowersprocket 5. A motor I is provided for driving thiselevated wheel I, the sup-, port 8 for which is mounted to swing froman elevated position for transport to a lowered position resting on the ground when the conveyor is to be used. 7

To enable the elevated wheel I to be used for driving the sprocket, the axle section'or shaft 9 on which the-elevated wheel is secured is rotatable in spaced bearings I0 secured to the swing"- able elevator support 3. The other wheel 2 is rotatably mounted on an axle section I I secured to the conveyor support. The use of the axle section 9 as a drive shaft reduces the weight and 1 cost. Since the drive axle section does not have to revolve in the stationarywheel 2 when the elevator is in operation, less power is required since no part of the elevator weight is carried by that section 9 of the axle which drives the elevator.

;This construction also lessens the bearing wear since it does not turn in the ground-engaging wheel 2 during elevator operation. If it is desired to maintain the drive axle in horizontal position, the nondriving wheel may be mounted in a suitablechuck I2 which will raise it above the ground to about the same height as the drive wheel.

necessity for raising the nondrive wheel 2 by.

means of a chuck may be avoided since, when the drive wheel is elevated, the axle may then be in horizontal position. It is apparent that the axle could be made in one piece rotatable with the drive wheel I and rotatable in the hub of the chuck-engaging wheel 2. Using the elevated ground wheel I as a belt drive eliminates the cost of a conventional gear reduction and avoids the necessity of an additional pulley. It simplifies the lubrication of the elevator and increases its efiiciency by eliminating the gear reduction. It also lessens the weight.

For supporting the drive wheel I in. elevated position, the swinging support 8 is provided, pivotally mounted on a bearing sleeve 13 secured to the conveyor chute to swing from the dottedline transport positionto-th'e full-line 'wheelsupporting position shown in Fig. 4. This swinging support is provided with a foot portion 14 of channel cross section as shown in Fig. 5, to which the tubular leg portion may be secured as by spot-welding or the, like. For securing the leg I5 in raised transport position, a threaded stud It .is secured thereto'w-hich may extend through. a hole in an angleiron l1 secured to the chute 3 when the leg is in raised position and .onto the end of which may be screwed a hand nut I8 for holding the leg in raised position.

in order to. insure that the motor is mounted in proper. relation with respect to the drive wheel, a channel-like arm 49 is provided, one end of which fits within the channel-like foot [-4 and is. secured thereto by means of a threaded stud 20. welded to the foot. and extending through a hole in the arm [9 as shown in Fig. 5. For securingthis. arm to the foot, the same. nut it, which was, used in securing the leg [5 in ele-- vated position, may be used by screwing it onto the upper end of the stud 20.

For securing. the. motor. 1 to the arm 19, a supporting plate 2i is provided having holes therein through which headed and threaded bolts 2-2. extend, which. bolts also extend through slots. 2,3 in the upper web of the channel-likearm [9. as shown in Figs. '1, Band 9. Securing hand. nuts. 24 are provided threaded onto the up-- per ends. oi. these bolts. Byl longitudinal adjustment ofthis motor. support 2!, the proper tension in the drivev belt 25'. may be secured. This:

mounting of the motor enables the elevator chute to. be raised or lowered to any angle without changing the drive belt adjustment since the leg I51 to. which the motor-supporting arm H! is secured is pivoted to swing about the same axis as that about which elevator chute 3 swings in it raising and lowering movement.

In order'to further support the motor base and the supporting arm, a plate 261$, W lded. to the lower edges, of the flanges of the, arm ['9 and. a post 21 is weld d to this plate onthe upper end or which. the lowerface of the. motor Support 2,! may rest, as shown in Figs, 4, 7, 8 and 9;. The motor base 28 may be secured to the supporting. plate 2| by means of. bolts 29 as shown in Figs. 4, '7- and 8;. In order to anchor the ele-.

vator and motor securely, the arm may be pro.- vided with an Openin through which a pegmay be driven into the ground, which might be use- 4 ful, for example, when the elevator is operated on a side hill or extremely uneven ground.

The conveyor chute 3 comprises a metal bottom sheet 30 (Figs. 14 and 18), extending longitudinally of the chute having down-turned side flanges 3|, and side plates 32 forming, with the bottom of the chute, a longitudinal channel in which the elevated material travels. The loweredges oi the side plates are secured to the down-turned flanges in any suitable manner, as by spot-welding. The bottom sheet is reinforced by a plurality of longitudinally-spaced angle irons 33 extending transversely of the bottom as bales of hay, as they travel along the chute and to keep this material from bearing too hard on the conveyor chain, a pair of wooden coplanarwing-like material-guiding and supporting runners 34 are secured to the bottom plate on the upper'side thereoi on opposite sides of theendless conveyor. Any suitable securing means may be provided, such as bolts 3:5, extending through the, runners and the bottom of the chute.

Transversel-yeextendingblades or paddles 3B are secured at intervals to the conveyor chain for engaging the material being elevated and pushing it along the. chute. For material such asb-aled hay, or the like, these. pusher blades may be provided with flanges 31' extending forwardly from the upper. edge. of the blade. and these flanges may be serrated as'shown in Fig. 2 in order to bite intov the material being elevated. This forwardlyeextending flange. causes the blade to. engage the. bale. properly even though it may be tilted back somewhatv in carrying the bale. up to the chute. The serrated edge grips. the bale'even though it is dropped on top of the serrated flange. It; is intended that the. bales. he dropped ahead of the blades, but. sometimes a.

bale happens to fall directly on. top of'the blades.

A blade having a smooth. leaning. edge would slip out from under, whereas. the saw-tooth edge. grips the. bale.

In order to secure the. right amount of sag in the lower run of the. chain. the upper sprocket. 5 is made longitudinally adjustable. For. this: purpose, it is. rotatably mounted in. a yoke 38, the stem 35% of. which is slidably: but nonrotatab-ly mounted in a sleeve 40 secured to the trans;- versel-y extendingangle; irons extending across and secured to the bottomofthe chute. For ad.- justingxthe stem iteof the; yoke, it. is threaded as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, and an. adjusting nut at is. screwed. onto this threaded. stem and bears against the angle iron 33 so that by turn-.-

- is. nut the stem; may be adj t n ia guard to prevent; b.ales being'discharged from rolling back underneath the. elevator and engaging the pusher plates 3fi'anid da-maging them.

After theelevatoris ldwered'to theground, the

operator, by-the use of' 'thehand rail 43, may

ned. guard and handle member 43:

raise that end of the elevator and push it to a new location.

Various means may be provided for supporting the upper end of the conveyor in elevated position. For raising it to elevated position a rope or cable 44 may be secured to the bail or handle 43 and to the sheave of a pulley, 44 forming part of a block and tackle arrangement, the block of which may be secured to any convenient support,

In order to support the chute 3 in vertically adjusted position, for example in proper relation with respect to a hayloft floor, a stand is provided comprising a pair of legs 45 (Figs. 14 and 15, one pivotally secured on each side of the chute, and a pair of braces 46, one on each side of the chute, each having one end secured to one of the legs at 41 and its other end 48 pivotally secured to the side of the chute. This brace may be a two-piece longitudinally-extensible construction, each piece having a number of longitudinally-spaced openings 49 therein in which the securing bolts 50 may be placed. These legs and braces may be secured in various positions along the chute by providing the sides of the chute with suitably spaced holes to receive the pivot bolts 48 and 52.

In cases where it is not convenient to support the chute from beneath, an overhead suspension yoke 53 may be provided, the lower ends of which are pivotally secured to a pivot rod 54 secured to brackets 55 on the sides of the chute as shown in Figs. 1 and 17. This suspension yoke may be used, for example, in an open building, the upper end of the yoke being supported by a cable, or the like, from the upper bracing or roof structure of the building. This suspension yoke is large enough for the bales to pass therethrough even though the bales are hanging over the sides of the chute and even though the chute is raised to the highest practical operating position of forty-five degrees. This yoke may be raised and lowered by a block and tackle arrangement similar to that described in connection with the rail. This block and tackle provides flexibility and is therefore convenientin that it may be fastened at its upper end at most any height within a building and the elevator may be held in any position or angle during its operation by the use of the yoke. For instance, if a block of bales is being piled in a barn and the elevator is being used to elevate the bales to the top of the pile, by the use of the block and tackle and the suspension yoke the elevator may be raised after each tier of bales is laid, thereby eliminating all lifting.

In order to prevent the chain from swaying up, down and sidewise while the elevator is in operation, a sheet metal guide 56 is provided (Figs.

1 and 14), secured to the angle irons 33v on the bottom plate of the chute beneath which guide the conveyor chain 4 travels. This is not intended as a chain tightener. The chain is tightened by means of the adjustment of the sprocket previously described so that it bears only slightly against the guide.

To facilitate delivering the material to the lower end of the chute, a hopper-like construction (Figs. 1, 2 and 18) is provided comprising a pair of sloping side plates 51, on each side of the chute, having their lower edges bolted to the side plates 32 of the chute. Under certain conditions, for example when bales are to be delivered to the elevator from wagons or trucks, an end member 58 (Figs. 2 and 11) is provided extending between the sloping side members 51.

This hopper end may be removed under certain conditions, for example when delivering hay to the elevator from sleds or the like at the ground level. 1 r 5 In order toprevent bales which might'acci-v dentally slide-down the chutefrom sliding out fromthe bottom endof the chute and perhaps injuring someone, asafety rod 59 is provided which extends between'andis secured to the sides of the-chute as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 12 and 19.

In order to adapt the elevator for material such as small grains and ear cor'n,-an'auxiliary chute may be provided, the sides of which lie closer. to

the conveyor blades than do the sides of the) This construction is shown I bale elevator chute. in Fig. 18. This auxiliary chute comprises a pair of lower downwardly and inwardly inclined wings or guide plates .60 extending the length of the chute, one on each side of the conveyor blades 36 and detachably secured to the bale-supporting runners 34.

In order to provide a hopper for the smaller chute, a pair of sloping hopper members 6| is pro'-, vided, one for. each side of the chute, the lower edges of which are secured to the upper edges of the plates 60 and the upper edges of which are secured to'the upper edges of the large hopper plates 51.

, For elevating hay or the likev only a few widely spaced pusher bladesSS need be used, some-- times only two. For small grain'andear corn a greater number of blades are used, perhaps one every twelve inches. The same type of blade may be used both for bales of hay and small grain.

1 Suitable guard means may be provided for the lower end'of the conveyor as it travels around the lower sprocket comprising an upper curved guard plate 62 (Fig. 12) and a lower curved guard plate 63. The upper edge of the upper plate may be secured to the transversely-extending safety rod 59 and the lower edge may rest on a transverse supporting'bar- 64. The lower edge of the lower guard 63 may be secured to a transverselyextending rod 65 and'its upper edge-may be supported by the transversebar 64.

For transporting the elevator for any distance, a detachable hitch may be provided (Figs. 16 and 17). This comprises a channel-likedrawbar 66 having a hitch yoke 61 secured to its front end. For attaching. it to the end of the chute,

' an L-shaped pin 68 is secured to the rear end of the drawbar, the longitudinally-extending portion of which is insertable into an opening in one of the angle irons 33 secured to the bottom of the chute. An intermediate portion of the drawbar is secured totheupper angle iron 33 bymeans The construction shown in Figs; 19 and 20 may be the same as that previously described except as to the drive between the motor 1 and thelower sprocket 4. In this form it is not necessary to raise either of the ground-engaging wheels 2 or- 11. The construction shown comprises a hearing sleeve extension 12 from the bearing housing 13 in which the axle section is rotatably mounted and on which sleeve extension 12 thegroundengaging wheel H is rotatably mounted, a drive.

pulley 13 keyedto the axle section 9, a motor support 14 for the motor 9 swingably mounted on;

.the bearing housing and movable from. a trans-- swerve:

1? port position. to.- a position ofiuse; and azbelt -zi from, theamotoir pulley: toi ther drive pulley-" 13*; Any; suitable-means (not 'showr'r) -may be'prwided for holding the swinging motor support 1mintransport; position; this: formathe elevator is transported to; positiorr for-use, '7 the motor: sup port: M: on; which the: motor: 15 may be mountedisiswung down until its; swinging: end: rests-onthe; ground. andztheele'vaton is then ready foruse;

Further modifications. Will be apparent to those 'skillediinzthesart and it; is; desired, therefore, that, the inventionbeli'm-ited only by-the scope. of; the appended: claims;

Having-,1 thus describedlmyinvention; what: r claim;.and desired 120 580111 9. by Letters Fatent isz' L A portable. elevator comprising-a pair oi' co axial groimd;engaging wheels;. an elongated end less; conveyor supportswingably mounted for height adjustment movement about the axis of said wheels; an endless" conveyor mounted on said" support, a; pair: of rotors spaced longitudinally" of said's wingable-support forsupmrtingtheendless: conveyor extended 'position; one of said rotorsbeine coaxial with --sa-id -'-whe'e1s, means for supportingone oi" said wheels abovethe'ground;

one or said rotors being rotatable witn-the el'e vat-ed wheelg' and a mot'or for drivingsaid elevated -wh'eel; i

3: A; portable elevatorcomprising a pair coaxial ground-engaging-wheels an elongated 'end less conveyor su-pport swingablymounted for height adgustment movement-'- about I the axis-= of said wheels, an endl eseconveyormounted:on said support; a pair of ='r0t0rs spaced longitudinally of said swingablesupport for'supportingthe end-- less oonveyor 'in: extend'ed positiony one or said rotors: being coamal with said wheels, meansifor supporting one of' 'said wheela abovethe :ground'; and a rotatabie-axle to which theel'evat'ed wheel andone: ofsaid rotors are secured;

4; A portable-elevator comprising a p'airf of ooaxial groundl engaeine wheels; :an elongated. end-a r less conveyor support swingabl y mounted for height-adjustment movementsabout the axis; of sa-id wheels3- aniendless conveyor moun-tedi onisaid' support; apair; of rotors spaced longitudinally of saidswingable: support for supporting" theiendr less conveyor inizextendedposition; one of said; rotors .beingi coaxial zwithi saidiwheels', means for supporting ons :of said-:wheelszahove the; ground; and a rotatable axle-.Ltmwhicli'the-.elevatedmwhel and 'one otsaidrrotor's' aressecured, the uneievated wheeLbeir-ig EmOuntEd/m a nonrotatablei'afleg ,5. A: portableelevator comprisingra pair: circa-s axiali groundeengagingzwneels anielongated ends lessp'onveyor' supporir "sunngazbly't mounted? for;

I height adjustment movement about thefiaxi'st ofi said wheels; an endless conveyor mounted-on said s port a" pair ofrotors spaced" TO'ngitu'dinaIly offsaid swingiabletsupport'for supportingthe end-- less; conveyor in; extended position; one of said" rotors b'ei'ng'ooaxi'al withsaid wheels, :and? means" 3; ground; on'exot said rotors being rota-table with? the elevated wheel, said wheel-supporting means comprisi'ng a supportmounted to swing-- about the axis of said: wheel from a wheel-supporting'pos? tion to a-nonsupp'or'ting position;

6. A portable elevator comprisinga pair of co? xial eround n agin Wheels; an" elongated one less conveyor support swingably mounted for height. adjustment movement aboutthe axis of V saidwheels, an endless conveyor mounted on said support, a pairof rotors spaced longitudinally of said swihgable supportfor s' lpporting the endle'ss conveyor in extended position, one of said ro-=- tors being'coaxia1 with-said wheel's, means for" supporting one of said wheelsabove the ground,-

one of said rotors being rotatable with the ei'e-=' vated" Wheel, sai'd wheel-supporting" means oom:

prising a support mounted to-sW-ing-- about the axis -ozt said: wheel from a wheel-supporting posi tion tore; nonsupportingposition; andamotorfor driving said elevated wheel having-means for se curing" it in drivingposition on' said support,

7. portable elevator comprising a: pairof coaxial': ground engagine" wheels; an elongated endless conveyor sup-portswingably mounted tor height adjustment movement about the axis of" said wheels, an endless conveyor mounted on said support,-a pair of rotors-spacedlongitudinally of said swingable supportforsupporting the end?- less conveyor extended position, one 'of i said rotorsbeing coaxial withsaid Wheels, means for supporting on'e of said wheelsabove the groundone of said rotors being rotatable -witlr the els vated wheel, saidrwheel-supportin'g means-seem prisinga support mounted to-swing about the-axis of saidwheeL from" a: wheel-supportingposition to anonsupportine position?- a motor for 'd ri-vi'ng said elvatedwheel having means for secur-in it in driving position-on said support,- and a drivebelt from said motor to said elevated wheelj 8; A portable elevator comprisi'rigapair of coaxial ground engaging-wheels; an elongated end lessconveyor support swinga-bly" mounted for height adjustment movement about the axis-of said wheels; an endless conveyor mounted on of said rotors 'beingrota-table with the" elevated wheel; said wheel-supportingmeans comprising-asupport mounted 1 toswing about the axisofsaid wheel-from-a Wheel-supporting'position to a non-= supporting position, and a motor for driving saitl elevated Wheelhaving, means-- for securing" it in driving position on said"support' comprisingj astrut on whichthe motor-ismounted; detachably securedto said support to life'in'horizontalosrtionwhenithe Wheelie elevated.

9': A; portable elevator comprising a pair of" co aXial'ground-enga'ging wheelsy an elongated ends less conveyor support sWingabl'ymounted -fon height adjustment movement about the ax-ifs" of" said wheels, an endless conveyor mounted-onsaid support; a pair of rotors-spasm longitudi-naily of said swingabl'e support for supporting the end less conveyor in extended position, one of said-* rotors 1 being coaxial with said wheel's; means for supporting one of said wheels above thqgfmihdi oneof said rotors being rotatable with the -ele vated wheel, said wheel supporting means corn; prising asupport mounted w 'swingab'out th'e axis ofsa-idwheel iromfawhe1 supportineposi f supporting: one ofsaitf wheels above the 7 =tion= to"-a-nonsupporting'*positibn; a-motor iow zontal position when the Wheel is elevated, said 5 strut having a threaded stud secured thereto for passing through a hole in said support, said support having a stud secured thereto, an anchor member having an opening through which said stud may extend when the support is swung to inoperative position, and a hand nut for said studs for holding them in anchored position.

10. A portable elevator comprising. a pair of coaxial ground-engaging wheels, an elongated endless conveyor support swingably mounted for height adjustment movement about the axis of said Wheels, an endless conveyor mounted on said support, a pair of rotors spaced longitudinally of said swingable support for supporting the endless conveyor in extended position, and means for supporting one of said Wheels above the ground, one of said rotors being driven from the elevated wheel.

11. A portable elevator comprising a pair of coaxial ground-engaging Wheels, an elongated endless conveyor support swingably mounted for height adjustment movement about the axis of said wheels, an endless conveyor mounted on said support, a pair of rotors spaced longitudinally of said rotors being driven from the elevated wheel, and a motor for driving said elevated Wheel.

STANLEY D. RUSSELL.

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